Christian Non-Resistance

I just finished recording an audiobook of Christian Non-Resistance, In All Its Important Bearings, Illustrated and Defended (1848) by Adin Ballou for Librivox. You can download the audiobook here.

It was an interesting read, and I hope it is a pleasant listen.

Ballou defends nonviolence with arguments from the Bible and from the nature of man, and claims that strict nonviolence is certainly the method of Jesus Christ himself and that the church has always been in error when it has acted violently. Though I think some of Ballou’s arguments are typical theological contortions, I tend to agree that the picture of Jesus presented in the gospels is generally nonviolent. If only we could live in a world dominated by Christian Christianity rather than Constantinian Christianity!

As someone with a menno backround, I lean toward the non violent sort of thing. I would suggest checking out http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/
I like them because even if you agree with their spiritual beliefs, they are all about helping people physically and not really preaching, at all.

<blockquote>Just like a tumor grows out of mostly-healthy cells.</blockquote>
I don’t find that analogy compelling. Tumors also grow out of cancer cells. Furthermore, it’s a matter of faith to suggest the original tissue was healthy. It’s entirely possible that the potential for “corrupt” Christianity is intrinsic to “good” Christianity. After all, it’s hard to point to any brand of the religion that hasn’t abused temporal power once it gained it.